Bruce Essen, right, takes pictures of his kill during an alligator hunting trip on Lake Trafford in Immokalee on Sept. 2, 2010. Essen, and his hunting buddy Ernie Preshard, have hunted all manner of animals in the United States and Africa, but there's something special about the gator. "The thing with alligators is you get really close to the animal," Essen said. "You feel that connection to him on the line. It sort of connects fishing and hunting." At just about 2 square miles, Lake Trafford has the highest density of alligators in the state, according to Conservation Commission officials. Greg Kahn/Staff